The County Courthouse is the most elaborately designed building
in Pipestone County and is among the most outstanding examples of
local use of quartzite stone. Built on land donated by Daniel Sweet,
the Courthouse was designed by architect George Pass in 1899 and
constructed by C. H. Peltier at a cost of $45,000. The Beaux Arts
style is a particularly interesting choice for the building because
of its association with power and civic pride. The building is noted
for its architectural merit consisting of a rectangular plan with
two slightly projecting bays at either end of the front facade and
projecting entrances on both sides. A highly decorated square tower
in the center of the front facade rises 110 feet above the ground
and is topped by a dome and a figure of Lady Justice. The four clock
faces in the tower have no clockworks and were never intended to
function.

Detail of the Pipestone County
Courthouse tower Courtesy of Lorraine Draper

The Courthouse lawn contains the Memorial Soldier statue sculpted
of Duluth sandstone by Leon H. Moore, a prominent Pipestone citizen.
The four sides of the base contain the names of 204 Civil War and
Spanish American War veterans from Pipestone County. For 24 years,
a Civil War cannon, given by the City of Pipestone, joined the statue.
The cannon eventually was returned to patriotic service by being donated
to the scrap metal drive during World War II. In 1962, the American
Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars purchased a surplus World War
II Sherman tank to honor the veterans of the 20th-century wars. The
tank is located on the north lawn along with the Memorial Soldier
statue. The Courthouse underwent a complete restoration in 1995 and
was rededicated in November of 1996.

The Pipestone County Courthouse is located at 416 S. Hiawatha
Ave., Pipestone and is open weekdays 8:00am to 4:30pm. Call 507-825-6740
for further information.